Location:
Project Number: 3072-21000-009-022-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2014
End Date: Aug 31, 2019
Objective:
Greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), is a destructive insect pest of field crops, including sorghum, wheat, and barley. Building upon the recent results from our project, there is a strong host defense mechanism operating in a resistant sorghum line, offering the host resistance against greenbugs. Thus, this SCA project is to analyze the resistance genes and confirm their usefulness in genetic improvement of greenbug resistance in sorghum and related crops. The specific objectives of this cooperative project are to: (1) isolate the candidate genes from the resistant source; (2) characterize the gene structure and related regulatory elements that may regulate the expression of the resistance genes; and (3) confirm their function in host resistance to greenbugs. It is expected that discovery of such novel resistance genes and detailed characterization of their function will reveal the genetic base of the host plant resistance and accelerate genetic improvement for greenbug resistance in sorghum.
Approach:
In order to achieve research objectives, we are developing a cooperative effort with a collaborator at Oklahoma State University using a molecular approach. The research experiments are as follows: (1) based on the current QTL mapping results, we will isolate the candidate genes using both map-based cloning and molecular cloning methods; and (2) function of the cloned greenbug resistance genes will be validated through the transgenic approach. Molecular experiments will be conducted to analyze and decipher the relationship of regulatory networks with host responses to attack by the insect pests. It is expected that the results generated from this research will help to determine the function of certain candidate genes or pathway(s) for host resistance to insect pests.
